Mn-prog-events Mailing List: Progressive Calendar 12.17.11 /2

[David Shove (shove001]

PROGRESSIVE CALENDAR  12 17.11

1. Anti-war rally   12.17 1:30pm
2. CUAPB           12.17 1:30pm
3. Northtown vigil 12.17 2pm
4. Manning rally   12.17 3pm

5. Stillwater vigil  12.18 1pm
6. Solstice vigil    12.18 5:30pm

 7. Marti and Luke Hiken - The two-party system is a charade

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From: WAMM
Anti-war rally 12.17 1:30pm

March and Rally: Send an Anti-War Message for the Holidays
Saturday, December 17, 1:30 p.m.
Government Plaza (the People’s Plaza) at 300 South Sixth Street,
Minneapolis.

The U.S. war continues in Afghanistan, with tens of thousands of U.S.
troops remaining in that county. The war in Afghanistan is extending into
Pakistan and there is a growing threat of new U.S. wars and interventions
around the world. While U.S troops are being withdrawn from Iraq, thousands
of contractors and military trainers are being left behind to continue U.S.
meddling in the affairs of Iraq. Join with us: we will be mailing anti-war
cards to President Obama. Antiwar holiday carols provided by the
Counter-Propaganda Singers. Co-Sponsored by: the Anti-War Committee (AWC),
Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), Minnesota Peace Action Coalition
(MPAC), Twin Cities Peace Campaign (TCPC), Veterans for Peace-Chapter 27
(VFP)), and WAMM. FFI: Call 612-522-1861 or 612-827-5364.


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From: Michelle Gross <mgresist [at] visi.com>
Subject: CUAPB 12.171:30pm

Meetings: Every Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Walker Church, 3104 16th Avenue
South http://www.CUAPB.org <http://www.cuapb.org/>
Communities United Against Police Brutality
3100 16th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Hotline 612-874-STOP (7867)


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 From: Vanka485 [at] aol.com
Subject: Northtown vigil 12.17 2pm

Peace vigil at Northtown (Old Hwy 10 & University Av), every Saturday 2-3pm


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From: Rowley Clan
Manning rally 12.17 3pm

3:00 pm:  Attend a pretrial hearing rally in solidarity with Bradley
Manning in front of the Federal Courthouse, 4th St. & 4th Ave in Downtown
Minneapolis


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From: scot b <earthmannow [at] comcast.net>
Subject: Stillwater vigil 12.18 1pm

A weekly Vigil for Peace Every Sunday, at the Stillwater bridge from 1- 2
p.m.  Come after Church or after brunch ! All are invited to join in song
and witness to the human desire for peace in our world. Signs need to be
positive.  Sponsored by the St. Croix Valley Peacemakers.
If you have a United Nations flag or a United States flag please bring it.
Be sure to dress for the weather . For more information go to
<http://www.stcroixvalleypeacemakers.com/>
http://www.stcroixvalleypeacemakers.com/
For more information you could call 651 275 0247 or 651 999 - 9560


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Solstice vigil 12.18 5:30pm

9th Annual Winter Solstice Peace Vigil
Light a Candle for Peace on the Darkest Night of the Year
Sunday, December 18, 20115:30–6:30 p.m.
Corner of Snelling and Summit Avenues, St. Paul, MN

Bring a candle and join neighbors from throughout the Twin Cities to
quietly witness for peaceful solutions to world problems. After the vigil,
warm up and socialize at a local Grand Avenue restaurant or coffee shop (to
be determined). If you can't attend the vigil, light a candle in your
window for peace and be with us in spirit. SponsorMerriam Park Neighbors
for Peace More InformationWeb:
http://www.MPPeace.org/eventsE-mail<http://www.mppeace.org/eventsE-mail>:
info [at] MPPeace.orgPhone: Krista Menzel (651) 641-7592 or Anne Benson at (651)
647-0580


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The Two-Party System is a Charade
by Marti Hiken and Luke Hiken /
December 16th, 2011
Dissident Voice

Many people are under the misguided impression that The United Nations
Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, constituted a failure on
the part of the world’s leadership to come to terms with the implications
of global warming. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their failure
to reach an agreement was a forgone conclusion, and as predictable as
Exon’s profits in the coming quarter.

It should be obvious at this point that neither the U.S. government, nor
the corporate oligarchy (forgive the redundancy), is interested in
formulating and carrying out solutions to the problems facing the world:
poverty, inadequate health care, meaningful education at affordable prices,
world peace, environmental protection, sustainability and justice, to name
just a few.

It is not that the powers-that-be disagree as to the ways to deal with
these problems. On the contrary, there is total unity that meaningful
solutions to the problems would affect corporate profits, and accordingly
the parties simply agree to disagree. In that way, the status quo remains
intact, assuring the destruction of the earth, the economic
disenfranchisement of the masses of people, and the ongoing monopolization
of wealth into the hands of the billionaires.

Indeed, the charade that is seen every day on national media and within all
three branches of government, suggests that there are significant
differences between Newt, Romney, Obama and the other charlatans who pass
themselves off as credible candidates. There are no differences – only
a façade to placate the average Americans’ reaction to the outrageous
policies hammering us farther into the ground. By pretending to offer us a
choice, they cover up reality: the leadership of both parties like the
situation just the way it is.

Who is in a position to argue for the arrest of Wall Street gangsters, of
corrupt politicians, of corporate boards that destroy our economy and our
natural resources? Where is the political power to demand justice for the
many, and the imprisonment of the profligate few?

No candidate in any of the current political parties calls for the
prosecution of the criminals who have destroyed our economy. None has
identified the enemies of the environment – those who eat up the world’s
natural resources for individual profit. None calls for the redistribution
of wealth from the 1% to the 99%. None calls for an end to our imperialist,
religious crusades throughout the world.

Until there are voices to carry out an agenda that helps the poor, and
punishes the super rich, voting for representatives of either ruling class
party is a meaningless act. It is a fool’s game.  Do not get caught up in
the tweedle-dee, tweedle-dumb conundrum. Let the oligarchs continue to
occupy the White House, the Congress, the Pentagon and the board rooms
until such time as we, the people, can identify and support legitimate
alternatives to illegitimate impostors.

*Organize locally, build upon a solid foundation, and abandon any hope of
obtaining co-operation from the rich. Supporting the lesser of two evils is
simply not possible in this climate. This is a period that demands serious
action, and not trite sloganeering. Supporting one millionaire over another
offers nothing to the 99%.*

Luke Hiken is an attorney who has engaged in the practice of criminal,
military, immigration, and appellate law. Marti Hiken is the director of
Progressive Avenues. She is the former associate director of the Institute
for Public Accuracy and former chair of the National Lawyers Guild Military
Law Task Force. Read other articles by Marti Hiken and Luke Hiken, or visit
Marti Hiken and Luke Hiken's website.

This article was posted on Friday, December 16th, 2011 at 8:00am and is
filed under Democrats, Elections, Right Wing Jerks.


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